Councillor Serviced Team Leader required for our public sector client based in Reading
This role is predominately office based at the Civic Offices
Job Purpose
1. To work as a key contact to provide comprehensive, specialist and proactive EA service to the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, taking full ownership of the Councillor Services team across a varied range of tasks taking responsibility for prioritising and maximising resource time on behalf of all Councillors, providing cover for the Mayoralty and assisting with major Mayoral events as required.
2. To oversee the work and manage the Councillor Services team providing support to all councillors across all parties. Ensuring the overall performance of the Councillor Services team is maintained, having oversight of workloads and ensuring the team is managed within agreed standards of quality and efficiency.
3. To provide advice and guidance to councillors regarding their duties and responsibilities as elected members and to provide advice and guidance to other officers regarding dealing with councillors, their casework and the Member: Officer Protocol.
Experience:
* Worked in democratic organisations (local government, national government etc)
* Worked in an office environment that required confidentiality and discretion
* Worked in a team with multiple demands, often with tight timescales, and with multiple senior leaders to support
* Experience of supporting a senior leader in a complex organisations
Skills:
* Able to build trust and confidence quickly
* Ability to handle sensitive information with a high degree of discretion
* Strong management skills, with the ability to identify and implement improvements quickly
* Strong organisational skills, managing a variety of requests at a fast pace, and coordinating between different teams with different priorities and demands
* Strong political acumen, recognising the political environment in which councillors work, and the apolitical role of officers
* Excellent written and verbal communications skills
* Maintaining an calm environment whilst managing pressures
Knowledge:
* Knowledge of Reading area
* Strong understanding of the democratic structures within local government, and the apolitical role of officers
* Understanding of UK GDPR and data protection
* Awareness of the challenges and priorities for Reading Borough Council